Day 570: Pictures of salvation - Jeremiah 31 vs 2 - 14

2-3 Thus says the Lord: “The people who survived the sword found grace in the wilderness; when Israel sought for rest, the Lord appeared to him from far away. I've loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you. 4-5 Again I will build you, and you shall be built, O virgin Israel! Again you shall adorn yourself with tambourines and shall go forth in the dance of the merrymakers. Again you shall plant vineyards on the mountains of Samaria; the planters shall plant and shall enjoy the fruit. 6 For there shall be a day when watchmen will call in the hill country of Ephraim: ‘Arise, and let us go up to Zion, to the Lord our God.’”

7-8 For thus says the Lord: “Sing aloud with gladness for Jacob, and raise shouts for the chief of the nations; proclaim, give praise, and say, ‘O Lord, save your people, the remnant of Israel.’ Behold, I will bring them from the north country and gather them from the farthest parts of the earth, among them the blind and the lame, the pregnant woman and she who is in labour, together; a great company, they shall return here. 9 With weeping they shall come, and with pleas for mercy I will lead them back. I will make them walk by brooks of water, in a straight path in which they shall not stumble, for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn.

10-11 “Hear the word of the Lord, O nations, and declare it in the coastlands far away; say, ‘He who scattered Israel will gather him, and will keep him as a shepherd keeps his flock.’ For the  Lord has ransomed Jacob and has redeemed him from hands too strong for him. 12-14 They shall come and sing aloud on the height of Zion, and they shall be radiant over the goodness of the  Lord, over the grain, the wine, and the oil, and over the young of the flock and the herd; their life shall be like a watered garden, and they shall languish no more. Then shall the young women rejoice in the dance, and the young men and the old shall be merry. I will turn their mourning into joy; I will comfort them, and give them gladness for sorrow. I will feast the soul of the priests with abundance, and my people shall be satisfied with my goodness, declares the Lord.” Jeremiah 31:2-14 (English Standard Version)

Through the prophet Jeremiah God described the joy Israel would experience when He led them back from the nations where they'd been in exile for 70 years. Verses 12-14 tell how they would dance for joy and be full of gladness. That’s also a lovely picture of the joy of anyone who is led out of sin's bondage and into the salvation Jesus Christ gives. But there are other pictures of salvation in this section too. What was the reason Israel was not lost forever? (vs 2-3)

It was because God's love is an everlasting love. He is not feeble and fickle like we are. That's true of Jesus. He said of those who come to Him for salvation “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.” (John 10:28) But salvation doesn't happen automatically. What was required on Israel's part? (vs 6)

They needed to respond to the call to return to God. The watchmen of old are like those who preach the good news of salvation today. Verses 7-8 show how God's salvation was available to all classes of society, not just the rich or clever. But what is it that shows when salvation is a genuine experience? (vs 9)

There was heartfelt sorrow on their part for the sins were guilty of, and they cried out to God for mercy. Over 600 years later the apostle Peter preached in Jerusalem and proclaimed: “It shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Acts 2:21) And what does vs 9 tell us about the outcome of their repentance and seeking God's mercy?

They would be led in a path that was straight and be refreshed by God along the way. Vs 10-11 give a lovely picture of them being led as tenderly as a Shepherd leading his flock, and being rescued from enemies that were too strong for them. Jesus Christ referred to Himself as such a shepherd and said: “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.” (John 10:27-28)  God’s love is everlasting!